Ok, so just to recap, this is a post about my progress towards goals I am making in a summer writing initiative hosted by lovely writers Alison, Erin, Jaime, and Katy. We’re posting our goals publicly, cheering each other on, and reporting back via link party to let everyone know how we’re doing. Why not join us?
1. How I did on last week’s goals
Write 2,500 words – Close, but not quite. After celebrating a great couple of days with this tweet, I did not add the remaining words needed. But still. SO much better than last week! (Side note: Oh, hi, critique partner Jenni! I see your smiling face here. 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement.)
Brainstorm three versions of the ending – CHECK! Whoohoo! The brainstorm session happened last night and went in directions I didn’t expect. I came up with one plot idea in particular that surprised me because it was a different approach than I’ve been taking so far … but I like it. I’ll make a decision soon.
2. My goal(s) for this week
Word Count – I determined I’d need around 5,300 words per week to finish the first draft by the end of August, so since I missed last week’s goal by 790 words, I’m going to increase my goal this week to 6, 090 to bring me up to speed. Eep!
Draft a Query for my WiP – I find it helps me determine plot and overarching themes to write queries for projects still in the works.
Read a few chapters in The Girls of Atomic City – (fascinating historical research for this futuristic project!)
(From my Instagram feed.)
Survive P90X3 – My husband talked me into working out with him for 90 days. I’m scared. But this does come with a super bonus: he’s doing all the cooking (to loosely follow the eating plan) for three months.
3. A favorite line from my story OR one word/phrase that sums up what I wrote/revised
“It wasn’t a business card, Mina realized. It was an access card. Eleanor had just given her a key to the most heavily secured building on the island.”
4. The biggest challenge I faced this week
Exhaustion after a busy weekend. I had hoped to pump out those last 790 words over either Saturday or Sunday, but responsibilities took precedence. By the end of each day, I was too wiped out to do much other than collapse in bed.
5. Something I love about my WiP
The research! It is So. Much. Fun. I get to daydream about future technologies and possibilities, while simultaneously looking to the past for inspiration and education. After all, according to George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” That’s kind of an unofficial theme to my research and plotting right now.
Hi! Glad to have “met” you through your blog. I know many people who’ve done P90x; it’s a lot if you haven’t worked out in a long time or done that type of stuff (which is a real mix, but say if you haven’t belonged to a gym and taken bootcamp type classes). I may be starting something with a similar workout regimen, though I still I want to keep going to my gym. Tough to balance that with writing because I always want to choose writing. Nice work on setting realistic goals, too. You can do it!
I completely understand being burned out at the end of the day. Writing takes a lot of brain power, and some days there’s just not enough left. 🙂 Good luck with writing this week. I hope it’s a little easier.
Ugh – good luck with P90X! I tried that and lasted 5 minutes. I got their 10 minute workouts instead and those were more up my alley. How lazy do I sound?! Good luck with your 6000 words a week! It’s doable, but it’s a lot! Don’t be too hard on yourself!
Thanks! Yeah … not sure how intense or how much I will do, but I’m going to at least put in a good faith effort. 😉
Fortunately, the P90X3 is a 30-min workout, so if I pace myself I should be able to make it.
OMG my friends and I did P90X3…or tried to, I lasted 3 days, LOL. I hope you finish it though 🙂 Good luck with your goals, it sounds like you’re on the right path! I do the writing the query letter thing too. It helps so much.
Your research sounds all kinds of fun and informative! And yay for meeting goals and for encouragement! I hope you have another wonderful week!
790 is so close! Great job. Can always catch up this week. Still have over a month to make total goal! Weekends are always hardest for me to meet goals, especially if I’m already behind.
Glad you’re enjoying research! And good luck this week.
Thanks for the mention, Andrea! Good for you for getting so close, especially with a little one! I’m impressed that you’re setting a goal of 6,000 words–that’s a lot, but you can do it!
The book you’re reading looks really interesting–I love getting carried away with research too. 🙂